Retirement home search started

[Torvy]

I think lots of people do it, but they tend to go to Costa Rica or Belize rather than back to the 'old country'.

I'd like to visit, but no interest in living abroad anymore.

@gsganzer Our fireplaces are wood burning, but have gas(lp) ignition. The best of both for us as we rarely need the extra heat and our farm is mostly trees. We had gas in the last place and traditional wood in WI. The gas is nice to warm the room a bit, but nothing beats real wood for ambiance.

 

[kenmbz]

The wife and I traveled for work and lived in many other countries.
I like being in other places but don't think I would retire outside the US.
Maybe rent a house for a month or 2 in Portugal, Spain, Italy instead of buying.

 

[Tomtint]

Taxes blindsided me making me rethink my plan…

Bought a place that checked the boxes about 20 years ago and at that time voters in Washington State approved a measure to limit year over year increases so I thought I was golden… that is until it was later gutted by one judge in King County.

6,800 property tax is now almost 24k… it is making California appealing…

Taxes of all shapes and sizes are my biggest expense…

Don’t know the answer but more than a few of my WA neighbors ended up downsizing due to the run up in property taxes.

We will be in the same situation.. Currently out home taxes are 19K..and it goes up every year. Looking in Fla ..but taxes on homes is high there as well..and insurance is...well..difficult and expensive. We want to get out of the North East for numerous reasons,, Taxes, crime, crowded, poor services for what we pay, liberal politics that we do not agree with.. and the weather. We want a simpler life and to be warm.. Not sure where that utopia is at the moment.

 

[gsganzer]

I heard that Portugal is a fast growing spot for expatriates and is really driving up prices. My wife and I really loved Spain when we were there in 2021. I'd like to go back someday and also visit Portugal.

 

[ultrarunner]

Neighbor down a ways was head chef for a very large hospital and upon retirement bucket list was time in Europe exposed to cuisine.

He and wife rented out their Oakland home and moved to Portugal for 1 year… they liked it so much they extended and then decided to stay selling their home saying no reason to return…

Nice couple… not sure if kids or not…

He was always on because hospital food service is 24/7

 

[Torvy]

Not sure where that utopia is at the moment.

It's in rural Texas, but applications and references are required.

 

[mark in portugal]

I heard that Portugal is a fast growing spot for expatriates and is really driving up prices.

Housing costs are rising fast; immigrants are often blamed. We're all too rich, driving up prices. No, we're all too poor, putting strain on services. Whatever.

As there are as many people leaving (emigrants) as there are arriving (immigrants), I think the cause is basic economic forces. People want to own homes, rentals are hard to find (the result of rent controls).

Anyway, when it comes to emigrating, there are a lot of things to worry about. Many details are specific to each individual person; taxes, medicals, wants and needs. Different sources of income are taxed at different rates in different countries.

In reality, not many people do it permanently. Most miss 'home', family, friends, the local sports bar, etc.

 

[riptides]

No one even seems to consider the idea of emmigating when you retire?
Your dollars can go a long way in some countries.
Obviously, it's a big step and probably not many people are suited for it.
Still, the concept is worth exploring.

I live on 10 acres near the sea in southern Portugal.

Maybe not emigrating full-time. A plan for next year is to start visiting a few countries and then decide where we can settle for three to six months during the year. I'd really like to get back to the Azores, soonest.

 

[gsganzer]

We went furniture shopping with the decorator yesterday. We were very successful with a leather sofa and loveseat, coffee table, side tables, 2 custom upholstered chairs, accent pillows and a rug. For the dining room, we found a live edge table, 6 chairs and a rug. Most will get delivered on the 8th, with the custom stuff taking about 10- 14 weeks.

The price was about what I expected. Not cheap, but it's good quality and where the money should be spent. The decorator will be frugal with lamps and other accents.

 

[EddieWalker]

I want to buy a recliner. I want a brown recliner that doesn't have power, it doesn't rock and it doesn't swivel. This should be simple, but it's proven to be overwhelming and painful to find one that I like without all that extra stuff that I don't want. The worse part is dealing with the sales people in the stores!!!!!

 

[mark in portugal]

Maybe not emigrating full-time. A plan for next year is to start visiting a few countries and then decide where we can settle for three to six months during the year. I'd really like to get back to the Azores, soonest.

For decades, I lived in two countries, shifting back and forth every 6 months. Always great weather, summer work in Europe paid for easy winters in Asia.

After a while, it just got to be too much work; maintaining the homes, the vehicles, the kitchens, packing it all up, unpacking it.

Also, the costs became really high.

I like living in one home now; I almost never travel, just for work when I have to.

Wait; is this retirement???

 

[gsganzer]

I want to buy a recliner. I want a brown recliner that doesn't have power, it doesn't rock and it doesn't swivel. This should be simple, but it's proven to be overwhelming and painful to find one that I like without all that extra stuff that I don't want. The worse part is dealing with the sales people in the stores!!!!!

We wanted recliners, but we were hoping we could find manual, without power motors. It's just something else to break. But no luck, power seems to be standard now.

 

[Torvy]

My wife just got a new one a few months ago. It does rock (sorry Eddie), but reclines manually. She's very happy and has fallen asleep in it quite a few times.

I just have a 'dad's' chair and an ottoman (footstool). It has been the 'present chair' since the kids were little.

 

[ultrarunner]

We wanted recliners, but we were hoping we could find manual, without power motors. It's just something else to break. But no luck, power seems to be standard now.

Tell them off grid cabin and no electricity…

I lucked out when lifelong friend left California for Arizona…

4 recliners with 2 like new… sue they were 25 years old but super comfortable…

I’ve found if I’m patient I can furnish an entire home… well almost because I do buy mattresses new.

 

[grsthegreat]

Tell them off grid cabin and no electricity…

I lucked out when lifelong friend left California for Arizona…

4 recliners with 2 like new… sue they were 25 years old but super comfortable…

I’ve found if I’m patient I can furnish an entire home… well almost because I do buy mattresses new.

Can’t you find a few used mattresses at the hospital? Ewww

 

[ultrarunner]

Can’t you find a few used mattresses at the hospital? Ewww

I kind of like craftsman style furnishings… with so many moving out of California there is no shortage of quality second hand pieces.

Hospital pads mostly 3 or 4” thick vinyl are lacking in the comfort department…

Can’t think of any of my home furnishings from work other than two framed etchings that were being tossed…

I have picked up a few things for the shop…a great vacuum pump, some of the best castors for reuse and when we changed linen companies and the old company never picked up 30 bundles of fresh towels after several months I was told get rid of them… 10 year supply of shop towels…

 

[gsganzer]

I have a bunch of my folks furniture, that I have no clue what to do with. It's all quality furniture though. That's the way that generation worked, they didn't buy throw away goods, it was buy once and cry once, but have a quality component for life.

They had a bunch of Scandinavian teak furniture, but then also some Founders Furniture in midcentury modern in black walnut. Apparently, the Founders furniture is extremely sought after. If anyone on here is interested, send me a PM and I'd be happy to discuss options.

I just couldn't make any of it work in our new place.

 

[Tomtint]

It's in rural Texas, but applications and references are required.

We have been to Texas a few times.. In all fairness we haven’t seen the best of it.. We went to the River Walk area in San Antonio and also to Austin.. both were just too crowded..and Austin.. I couldn’t get out of fast enough… I have less than zero patience for hipsters and brown men wearing skinny jeans. .. also dislike the smell of pot.. which was everywhere. .. I’m told Houston is a traffic mess 99% of the day.. Dallas we have only spent a couple days there for work.. it was busy. ..nothing I’d be in a hurry to see again. .. friend lives in Spring TX..he likes it. We should probably visit there and have him show us around a bit.

 

[Torvy]

The River Walk is the best of those options, we were always there in February, though. Seeing the Alamo, for perspective, is good. We lived in the metroplex for years. The older kids still live in that area. Yes, Houston is awful.

I don't care what color, grown men should never wear skinny jeans.

We are 45 miles from any city over 100k. 2 hours+ to Dallas. The state is so big, we still have a lot to see. I've never been to the SW areas, except to pass through El Paso when I was still in HS.

 

[EddieWalker]

I moved to Texas from CA in 2002 and like it a lot better. But for the life of me, I don't have a clue what somebody should do or see if they come to visit here. I've never done the tourist thing here. I'm here for the economy, cheap land and low crime. If I go on vacation, it's somewhere with mountains!!!